Westminster Abbey Summer Organ Festival 2021 Tuesdays at 7.00pm James O’Donnell 20th July Matthew Jorysz 27th July Peter Holder 3rd August Each concert will last approximately 60 minutes with no interval Please ensure all mobile devices are switched to silent and note that photography, filming and sound recording are not permitted during the performance The Summer Organ Festival takes places thanks to the generous support of Patricia Owen Keltner and David Keltner 20th July JAMES O’DONNELL Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) Fantasia super ‘Komm, heiliger Geist’ BWV 651 Maurice Duruflé (1902–86) Prélude, Adagio, et Choral varié sur le thème du ‘Veni Creator’ Percy Whitlock (1903–46) Scherzetto from Organ Sonata in C minor Franz Liszt (1811–86) Weinen, klagen, sorgen, zagen Johann Sebastian Bach Toccata in F BWV 540 James O’Donnell is Organist and Master of the Choristers of Westminster Abbey. Internationally recognised as a conductor and organ recitalist, he has performed all over the world, including the United States, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and throughout Europe, and appeared at the BBC Proms and many other festivals. Recent engagements have included Poulenc’s Organ Concerto with the London Philharmonic Orchestra under Yannick Nézet-Séguin at the Royal Festival Hall, broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 and released on CD on the LPO Live label, and solo recitals in the United States, Germany, Norway and the Netherlands. A junior exhibitioner at the Royal College of Music, James O’Donnell was then Organ Scholar of Jesus College, Cambridge. His first professional appointments were at Westminster Cathedral, where he was for five years Assistant and subsequently, for twelve years, Master of Music. Under his direction the Choir of Westminster Cathedral won the Gramophone ‘Record of the Year’ award for its Hyperion disc of masses by Frank Martin and Pizzetti and a Royal Philharmonic Society award, both unprecedented for a cathedral choir. In January 2000 James O’Donnell took up his present appointment at Westminster Abbey. As director of music and principal conductor of the Choir of Westminster Abbey, he is responsible for all musical aspects of the Abbey’s work and directs the Abbey Choir in its busy schedule of services, concerts, recordings and broadcasts. As soloist and director he has worked with many of Britain’s leading ensembles. He is Music Director of St James’ Baroque and appears regularly with the BBC Singers. He is Visiting Professor of Organ and of Choral Conducting at the Royal Academy of Music, of which he is also an honorary member, and has taught at Yale University and the Curtis Institute. He was President of the Royal College of Organists from 2011 to 2013. He is an Honorary Fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge, and was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Music by the University of Aberdeen. 27th July MATTHEW JORYSZ Sergei Rachmaninov (1873–1943) Symphonic Dances: i Non allegro arr Jeremy Filsell Maurice Duruflé (1902–86) Scherzo Op 2 Sergei Rachmaninov Symphonic Dances: ii Andante con moto (Tempo di valse) Charles-Marie Widor (1844–1937) Intermezzo: Allegro from Symphonie VI Sergei Rachmaninov Symphonic Dances: iii Lento assai – Allegro vivace Matthew Jorysz has been Assistant Organist of Westminster Abbey since January 2016, having been appointed to the position after spending a term as Abbey Organ Scholar. Along with the Sub-Organist, he is responsible for playing the organ for services in the Abbey, accompanying the Abbey Choir, and assisting in conducting the choir and training the choristers. He also coordinates the Abbey’s weekly Sunday Organ Recitals. Before taking up his appointment at Westminster Abbey, Matthew held the Organ Scholarship at Clare College, Cambridge whilst studying for a degree in Music. At Clare, he accompanied and occasionally directed the choir in its schedule of services, concerts, tours, broadcasts and recordings. This included tours of Europe and the USA, broadcasts on BBC Radio 3 and several CD recordings, most notably of Duruflé’s Requiem with Neal Davies and Jennifer Johnston. Prior to commencing his studies in Cambridge, Matthew spent a year as Organ Scholar at Salisbury Cathedral, where he accompanied the choir for the majority of services and played in the Southern Cathedrals Festival. In parallel with his work at the Abbey, Matthew is active as a recitalist, performing regularly in the UK and further afield. Recent performances include the Sept Chorals- Poèmes d’orgue pour les Sept Paroles du Christ of Tournemire at Westminster Abbey, alongside appearances in Spain and Germany. He is also developing a career as a pianist and chamber musician, collaborating chiefly with singers. His recently released recording of Russian art song with countertenor Hamish McLaren, Sphinx, was selected as editor’s choice in Limelight magazine, which described him as ‘… the eloquent pianist throughout, a sensitive accompanist.’ Other notable performances include Messiaen Poèmes pour Mi, Britten Winter Words and Schumann Dichterliebe, as well as liturgical performances of two of Britten’s Canticles at Westminster Abbey. 3rd August PETER HOLDER Léon Boëllmann (1862–97) Suite Gothique César Franck (1822–90) Pastorale Camille Saint-Saëns (1835–1921) The Carnival of the Animals arr Peter Holder Fast establishing a reputation as one of the most exciting organists of his generation, Peter Holder has held the post of Sub-Organist of Westminster Abbey since October 2017. He is the principal organist for the Abbey’s daily services and at state occasions, and accompanies the Abbey Choir in its concerts, recordings and broadcasts. He is the principal deputy conductor of the choir and supports Organist and Master of the Choristers James O’Donnell in training the Abbey choristers. Having served for two years as Organ Scholar of Westminster Abbey, Peter was Sub-Organist of St Paul’s Cathedral between 2014 and 2017. He regularly accompanied choral services and played a significant role in developing the portfolio of organ events at the Cathedral, including staging two Grand Organ Galas in which he appeared as soloist in concerti by Handel and Poulenc. As a recitalist, Peter performs in cathedrals and concert halls across the world. He made his BBC Proms solo debut at the 2019 First Night of the Proms performing Janáček’s Glagolitic Mass. Ivan Hewett, writing for The Daily Telegraph, remarked that ‘… it was Peter Holder’s wild organ solo which stole the show’, whilst BBC music reporter Mark Savage wrote that ‘… Holder deservedly received an ovation after untangling the labyrinthine solo.’ Peter’s solo recording, Bach ist der Vater, wir sind die Buben, produced at Neresheim Abbey, has garnered much praise. Commenting on the release for Organists’ Review, Christopher Maxim praised his ‘impeccable articulation … great precision and yet also a humanity that imparts life and warmth’, describing him as ‘a superlative organist’. Peter regularly features on BBC Radio and Television broadcasts. Peter is an organ tutor at the Royal Academy of Music, his alma mater. He completed undergraduate and postgraduate studies under the tutelage of David Titterington, winning numerous major prizes and awards. He undertook further study with Jon Laukvik at Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Stuttgart, and with Thierry Escaich in Paris. In 2016 he was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music. The Abbey Organ Harrison & Harrison (1937) The Harrison & Harrison organ of Westminster Abbey was installed for the coronation of King George VI. Originally conceived with four manuals and eighty-four speaking stops, it incorporated some of the pipework of the previous 1848 William Hill instrument. The ornate organ cases on the screen, designed in the late nineteenth century by architect J L Pearson for the Hill instrument, were reinstated in 1959. In 1982 and again in 1987 the organ was enlarged and overhauled by Harrison & Harrison, resulting in the present ninety-four-stop, five-manual instrument which is widely celebrated for its versatility and breadth of colour. A full specification can be found at the end of this programme. Young Artist Platform For the first time as part of the Summer Organ Festival, we are delighted to showcase emerging talent in our new Young Artist Platform series. Recitals take place each Sunday afternoon from 11th July to 1st August at 5.00pm and last 30 minutes. Admission is free. Charles Maxtone-Smith Organ Scholar, Westminster Abbey; Royal Academy of Music Polina Sosnina Royal College of Music nominated by the Keyboard Trust Callum Alger Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Michael Stephens-Jones Selwyn College, Cambridge nominated by the Royal College of Organists Thank you for your support In purchasing a ticket for the Summer Organ Festival you are already helping to support the Abbey as it begins to recover from the severe financial effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Find out more about our Heritage Preservation Appeal and the work we are doing to protect the three key areas of greatest need—conservation, care of the Abbey Collections, and the continuation of our rich musical tradition—by visiting westminster-abbey.org/support. What’s on There’s lots to do at the Abbey this summer. Our Summer Festival offers something for everyone, whether you’re into history, music, film, theatre, or you’re entertaining the family. From July to September, there are behind-the scenes tours, open-air cinema and theatre, live music and family fun. westminster-abbey.org/summerfestival Find out more Visit the Abbey